Hold Both President, State Govs Accountable For State Of The Nation – Akande Tells Nigerians

Nigerians must hold elected public officials at all levels accountable for the nation’s situation. This was the view of Laolu Akande, a veteran journalist and former presidential spokesperson on In-Depth Politics X, formerly Twitter Space on Tuesday. Akande took questions at the X Space on several critical issues, including food production, the distribution of palliatives, […]

Nigerians must hold elected public officials at all levels accountable for the nation’s situation.

This was the view of Laolu Akande, a veteran journalist and former presidential spokesperson on In-Depth Politics X, formerly Twitter Space on Tuesday.

Akande took questions at the X Space on several critical issues, including food production, the distribution of palliatives, and the urgent need for decisive action in the oil and gas sector.

He highlighted the pressing issue of food scarcity in the country, saying state governors ought to develop innovative solutions, especially to address the problems of transportation of agricultural produce and its effects on inflationary food prices.

According to him, many governors have failed to prioritize agricultural development despite the vast potential for food production in their regions.

While noting that Nigeria has the capacity to feed itself and even export surplus, the former spokesperson added that this potential remains untapped due to the inaction of several state governors.

He criticized the lack of adequate attention to food production amidst rising hunger in the country.

The veteran journalist said “Beside the problem of insecurity, which has also affected food security in the country, because a lot of farmers can’t even go to farms in their usual cycle because they’ve been subjected to governance by bandits.

“The major problem for food prices is transportation. And it goes back to the question of fuel scarcity. So, what has to happen is to pay a very focused attention on to the problem of transportation.

“The other compelling reason that explains this is the road blocks transporters have to deal with. These are the issues government both at the Federal level and states have to continue to pay attention to.”

He noted that Nigeria has the capacity to feed itself and even export surplus, but this potential remains untapped due to the inaction of several state governors.

Speaking on the solutions to the food prices, Akande said there is the urgent need to address the transport costs. He said, “We must set up a process to ensure that the crude oil that God gave us and now with our own local Refineries we’re able to turn it to productive ventures.”

“Dangote Refinery may be a solution regardless of the contradictions of what people think about Dangote. That the man has put on a refinery that can produce 650,000 barrels per day is a game changer. As a people and a government, we have to ensure we use that to solve our problems.”

“We can’t get out of this subsidy problems until we are able to refine locally. Guess what? We now have Dangote Refinery.”

The veteran journalist also dismissed the distribution of palliatives as a short-term solution that fails to address the root causes of hunger in Nigeria. Akande emphasized that while palliatives may provide temporary relief, they do not solve the underlying issues of food insecurity and poverty. He said palliatives are merely a band-aid on a gaping wound.
“On the palliatives, I don’t think it’s meant to be a permanent solution [to hunger],” he said. “It was designed to give people food for the moment. It’s not something anybody should expect to have transformative impact”, he noted.

He called for a sustainable approach that empowers farmers, improves food distribution networks, and ensures that every Nigerian has access to affordable, nutritious food.

Turning his attention to the oil and gas sector, Akande called on President Bola Tinubu to take bold steps in addressing the pervasive corruption that has long plagued the industry. He noted that corruption in the sector has not only undermined the economy but has also eroded public trust in the government.

“President Tinubu must take decisive action to clean up the sector, ensure transparency, and hold those responsible for corrupt practices accountable.”

Akande urged Nigerians to demand accountability from both the federal and state governments. He stressed that addressing the nation’s challenges requires a collective effort, with citizens playing an active role in holding their leaders responsible.